Chinese honour guard soldiers march against the backdrop of Tiananmen Square and Tiananmen gate in Beijing, China on Wednesday. Foreign journalists were barred from the square on Wednesday amid heavy security on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests in 1989. (Elizabeth Dalziel/Associated Press)

The second most-wanted student leader from the 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests says he has been denied entry to the southern Chinese territory of Macau, a day before the 20th anniversary of China's crackdown.

Wu'er Kaixi told The Associated Press by phone Wednesday that he travelled to Macau from Taipei to turn himself in to authorities, but immigration officials asked him to take a return flight, which he refused. The officials didn't immediately remove him by force, he said.

"I'm just waiting. I'm guessing they're waiting for instructions from their superiors," Wu'er said.

Chinese dissident Wu'er Kaixi was denied entry to the southern Chinese territory of Macau on Wednesday, a day before the 20th anniversary of China's crackdown on pro-democracy protests. (Wally Santana/Associated Press)

"If they disagree with my behaviour, they can arrest me. I can accept that," he said. "But I won't let them deport me."

Macau government information officer Elena Au said she didn't have immediate information on Wu'er's case.

Pyjama-clad hunger striker

One of the best-known leaders from the 1989 Tiananmen student movement, Wu'er rose to fame as a pyjama-clad hunger striker haranguing then-Chinese premier Li Peng at a televised meeting during the protests in Beijing.

Named No. 2 on the Chinese government's list of 21 wanted student leaders after the military crushed the protests, he escaped and has lived in exile in Taiwan, where he has worked as a businessman and political commentator.

Wu'er wants to turn himself in to the Chinese government so he can see his parents, who haven't been allowed to visit him in Taiwan, he said in a statement issued by a friend.

"My turning myself in should not be interpreted as my admission that my behaviour 20 years ago in illegal and wrong. I want to reassert here the Chinese government bears complete and undeniable moral, political and legal responsibility for the tragedy that happened in China in 1989," the statement said.

"I hope, 20 years later, the Chinese government can set a new position on the historical problem of the June 4 massacre, admit its guilt and apologize to the Chinese people," he said.